LIVESY RANGE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17919, 25 October 1932, Page 12

LIVESY RANGE

1 . EXPLORATION FOR GOLD VANGUARD OF EXPEDITION LEAVES SYDNEY, October 13. After numerous delays in the endeavor to secure a suitable plane, the expedition being sent to the Livesy Range by the West-Centralian Gold Exploration Company, left by express last night for Melbourne. There it will connect with Mr. Keith Farmer, who will fly the party to Laverton, and, thence after landing fields have been prepared, to the Livesy Range. Mr. A. H. Stewart, mining engineer, will be m charge of operations, and he will he accompanied by Mr. Erroll H. Coote, journalist and aviator, who will act as guide. . Mr. Stewart, who has obtained three months’ leave of absence from the Main Roads Board, was one of the men reSDonsiblo for the opening up of the Tanami goldfields, and has _ had considerable experience in the interior of Australia. Mr. Coote was the pilot of the Golden Quest plane with the original Lasse ter expedition, and it was on the information supplied to him by Lasseter, after his survey flight at Ilbilla, in the Ehrc.nberg Ranges, that the company was floated.. Both Messrs. Coote and Stewart believe they will find gold in that littleknown part of Australia. Tn addition, tliev will endeavor to secure leases and ontions in or near Whelan’s find in the Livesy Ranges, PLANE TO BE USED The plane to be hired by the company is a Sopwith Gnu, with a Wright Whirlwind engine, of 245 b.o. It is capable of a maximum speed of more than 100 miles an hour. It has an exceptionally small take-off of 50 yards, a factor which is of vital importance in a country' where landing grounds are few and treacherous. It will^ scat three passengers and pilot, and. is capable, of carrying ample freight. . Inquiries through the oi] company, which is providing service for the expedition, revealed that there was an aerodrome two miles north of Laverton. It has an area of 600yds by 800yds, and is free of obstructions. From Melbourne, where it is proposed to leave on Saturday* the party will proceed to Nhill, Adelaide, Ceduna, Cook. Forrest, Rawlinna, Kalgoorlie, and thence to Laverton. Arrangements will be made in Melbourne to equip the plane with a short-wave wireless set., to lie used in the event of a forced landing of the plane. FIRST DESERT BASE The first base where food and fuel will lie dumped for the expedition will bo at a point slightly more than 200 miles east north-east of Laverton, and a landing ground will be cleared at that spot for the plane. This work will bn done through the oil company, which wi 1 send out a truck loaded with petrol, oil, food, water, and equipment. There is a large rock hole at the proposed landing ground, hut the party will take- no risks, and will alwavs carry sufficient water. Tt is probable that the truck will he used through to the Livesy Ranges but this will bn determined after a night has been made from the dump to the location of the reef. The plane has n ran<ie of nearly 800 miles, trims allowing sufficient radius to carry out exploration flights with a maximum margin of safety. . Following the departure of the evncndition, Mr. C. Lexins-Burlington will leave for Melbourne to form a goldfields’ transport company, the proposal being that'an air service be formed to Ferve existing .and future goldfields, fa*- from the railhead at Laverton. lie "will not accompany the expedition, nut will probably arrive at a later date with a second plane to assist the original party. , Mr. Keith Farmer, who was approved W the aerial adviser to the company. Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, has had considerable cxnerfence ns a pilot.